PHYSICAL THERAPY

Research for physical therapy

Papers a physiotherapist can act on — musculoskeletal, neurological, cardiorespiratory and paediatric practice — each read in full and summarised without overstating what it found.

13,066 PAPERS · PAGE 10 OF 262 · NEWEST FIRST

• PTOTQualitative2023Physical Activity Programming for Older Adults in Assisted Living: Residents' Perspectives.Western journal of nursing researchAssisted living residents wanted physical activity programs to be shorter, group-based, safe and adaptable. They preferred framing goals as adding light activity rather than reducing sitting, and found chair-only classes too easy.
• PTRNQualitative2022Longing for homelikeness: A hermeneutic phenomenological analysis of patients' lived experiences in recovery from COVID-19-associated intensive care unit acquired weakness.Journal of advanced nursingPatients recovering from COVID-19 ICU-acquired weakness described waking into an unfamiliar body, craving human contact, and finding progress through small, supported steps. Setbacks and fatigue remained common after coming home.
• PTOTRNSystematic Review2022The Effects of Skin Temperature Changes on the Integrity of Skin Tissue: A Systematic Review.Advances in skin & wound careElevated skin temperature consistently worsened skin barrier function and increased water loss during loading. In patients with impaired thermoregulation, delayed temperature recovery after offloading predicted ulcer formation, suggesting monitoring may aid early detection.
• PTOTRNSystematic Review2022A Systematic Review of Virtual Reality Therapeutics for Acute Pain Management.Pain management nursing : official journal of the American Society of Pain Management NursesIn adults, most studies found lower acute pain during VR, but several found no benefit and one found worse pain. Devices, content and study quality varied widely, so results are not consistent.
• PTOTSLPRNSurvey2022Examining Associations Among Sexual Health, Unmet Care Needs, and Distress in Breast and Gynecologic Cancer Survivors.Seminars in oncology nursingAmong breast and gynecologic cancer survivors, 82.8% reported clinically significant sexual dysfunction. Worse sexual function and greater unmet sexual health needs were independently associated with higher psychological distress, even after controlling for age, treatment type, and antidepressant use.
• PTOther2022Factors associated with the 6-minute walk test performance in older adults with hyperkyphosis.Geriatric nursing (New York, N.Y.)In older adults with hyperkyphosis, spine curvature severity was not independently associated with 6-minute walk distance. Taller height, lower weight, and fewer prescription medications were associated with walking farther.
• PTSurvey2022The Impact of Distance Education during the COVID-19 Pandemic on Physical Activity and Well-Being of Czech and Polish Adolescents.The Journal of school healthAdolescents reported less physical activity, more sitting, and lower well-being during distance education than before the pandemic. Girls reported lower well-being than boys.
• PTSLPQualitative2023Between a Rock and a Hard Place: The Challenges of Caregiving During a Pandemic for Parkinson's Family Care Partners.The American journal of hospice & palliative careParkinson's family caregivers described choosing between risky healthcare visits and unsupported home care during the pandemic. They wanted providers to listen, give clear guidance, and help with exercise, medications, isolation, and their own health.
• PTRNOther2022Treating Persistent Pain: A Nurse Co-Led, Interdisciplinary Model for Primary Care.Pain management nursing : official journal of the American Society of Pain Management NursesNurse co-led interdisciplinary pain self-management program in primary care was associated with lower pain severity, disability, and interference with enjoyment of life, general activity, and sleep than usual care; opioid use did not differ.
• PTQualitative2022Childhood cancer survivors' and their parents' experiences with participation in a physical and social intervention during cancer treatment: A RESPECT study.Journal of advanced nursingSurvivors and parents found the hospital activity sessions, part of a programme with peer visits and cancer education, mostly helpful, but sessions had to match daily side effects and preferences. Post-treatment, survivors said peers motivated activity more than parents reported.
• PTCohort2022Physical Activity at School Recess: A Key Element in Balancing Social Disparities.The Journal of school healthGirls were more sedentary and less active than boys during school recess, especially older girls. Children from ethnic minorities or lower socioeconomic status were more active at recess, but less active after school and on weekends.
• PTQualitative2022Nursing home directors of nursing experiences regarding safety among residents with obesity.Geriatric nursing (New York, N.Y.)Directors of nursing described caring for residents with obesity as needing two or more staff, bariatric equipment, and extra time for transfers and skin care. They also reported staff injuries and difficult home discharges. This is their experience, not tested outcomes.
• PTOTRNCohort2023Poor long-term recovery after critical COVID-19 during 12 months longitudinal follow-up.Intensive & critical care nursingTwelve months after severe COVID-19 ICU care, 46 patients still reported fatigue and functional limitations. Symptoms did not improve between four and twelve months, except slight cognitive gain, while frailty worsened.
• PTOTSLPRNOther2023Lagging coverage for mental health services among children and adolescents through home and community-based Medicaid waivers.Journal of child and adolescent psychiatric nursing : official publication of the Association of Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Nurses, IncChildren and adolescents with serious emotional disturbance had Medicaid home and community-based waivers with under $7000 per person per year and no covered therapy or skilled nursing services, unlike autism or medical complexity waivers. Clinicians should expect funding gaps.
• PTQualitative2022Co-design to increase implementation of insomnia guidelines in primary care.Patient education and counselingPatients with insomnia wanted plain, non-blaming education, estimated sleep diaries, and help with daily-life impact. A co-designed Dutch leaflet was positively received by professionals, but the study does not show it improves sleep or reduces hypnotics.
• PTRNRCT2022Effectiveness of systemic acupuncture in the control of urinary incontinence following radical prostatectomy: a randomized clinical trial.Revista da Escola de Enfermagem da U S PAdding acupuncture to pelvic floor training after radical prostatectomy produced lower measured urine leakage at four and eight weeks than training alone. Both groups improved, so the training itself mattered.
• PTOTSLPRNQualitative2023Moral experiences of children with medical complexity: A participatory hermeneutic ethnography in Brazil.Journal of child health care : for professionals working with children in the hospital and communityChildren with medical complexity resisted treatments aimed at normal development by crying, silence, or asking for changes. Some school tasks and surgery decisions changed when adults listened.
• PTOTRNSystematic Review2022Systematic Review of Rural and Urban Differences in Care Provided by Home Health Agencies in the United States.Journal of the American Medical Directors AssociationRural Medicare home health patients received fewer skilled visits, including physical therapy, and had more emergency room visits. Hospitalization differences were mixed, and some rural agencies performed better on infection prevention practices.
• PTQualitative2022Supporting Decision-Making About Patient Mobility in the Intensive Care Unit Nurse Work Environment: Work Domain Analysis.JMIR nursingICU nurses said mobility decisions compete with patient safety, nurse safety, competence, and unit throughput. They said they needed one place showing vital signs over time, past mobility progress, staffing, and equipment availability. These are nurse-reported themes, not patient outcomes.
• PTOTQualitative2023Actual experience of the training effect of Baduanjin on patients with hemiplegic limb dysfunctions after cerebral infarction: A qualitative study.Nursing openAfter Baduanjin training, patients with one-sided weakness after stroke said their limbs felt stronger, steadier and more usable, and tasks like stairs, standing and holding a cup became easier. They also said the exercises felt hard at first, then manageable.
• PTOTOther2023Using consensus methods to prioritize modifiable risk factors for development of manifestations of frailty in hospitalized older adults.Nursing open14 clinical and academic experts agreed 44 modifiable risk factors for frailty in hospitalized older adults, from pain and medication to mobility, elimination and call bells. This is a care planning list, not tested evidence that targeting them improves outcomes.
• PTOTRNCase Report2023A case report of an 18-year-old receiving nebulized lidocaine for treatment of COVID-19 cough.Heart & lung : the journal of critical careIn one adolescent with severe COVID cough, nebulized lidocaine was started with albuterol, gabapentin, and ipratropium. The team reported less propofol use afterward, but multiple treatments changed together and this single case cannot show lidocaine worked.
• PTSurvey2023Physiotherapy practices when treating patients with COVID-19 during a pandemic: A survey study.Heart & lung : the journal of critical careHospital physiotherapists treating COVID-19 worked a middle value of 12 hours per 24 h, used chest X-ray and arterial blood gas tests, and often used auscultation or non-invasive ventilation despite guideline cautions.
• PTOTNarrative Review2023Exercise modulates the immune system in cardiorespiratory disease patients: Implications for clinical practice during the COVID-19 pandemic.Heart & lung : the journal of critical careModerate exercise may support immune function, but high-intensity work can temporarily raise infection risk. Evidence on reducing inflammation in heart and lung disease is inconsistent, and most included studies had poor quality.
• PTOTSLPRNSurvey2023Caregiver and Clinician Experience With Virtual Services for Children and Youth With Complex Needs During COVID-19.Journal of pediatric health care : official publication of National Association of Pediatric Nurse Associates & PractitionersCaregivers of children with complex needs were more positive about virtual appointments than clinicians: 80% said goals were met, while only 48% of staff felt they could meet clinical goals. Direct observation and physical exams remained hard.
• PTRNOther2022A comprehensive health education plus monitoring support program for older adults with knee osteoarthritis coexisting with overweight and type 2 diabetes.International journal of nursing sciencesOlder Thai adults with knee osteoarthritis, diabetes and overweight had lower pain at 6 months when village volunteers supported their walking, strengthening and diet plan after education (1.73 versus 2.93 on 0 to 10). Baseline pain differed, and other outcomes were mixed.
• PTCohort2023Uses of Health Care System Medical Care Services by Athletes After Injury at the High School Level.The Journal of school healthAthletes from lower socioeconomic schools used more emergency department and physical therapy services after injury, even though injuries were similarly common. Ask which outside provider the family chose, because pathways may differ.
• PTOTSystematic Review2022Effects of equine-assisted interventions on older adults' health: A systematic review.International journal of nursing sciencesEquine-assisted interventions produced mixed results in 265 older adults across 13 small studies, with low-quality evidence, and the only cognitive study found no improvement.
• PTOTPilot2022Merging Yoga and self-management Skills (MY-Skills) to influence self-efficacy among individuals with persistent pain: A pilot study.Complementary therapies in clinical practiceOnly one self-efficacy measure improved significantly: physical function. Total self-efficacy, coping, and daily activity management showed no significant change after eight weeks of merged yoga and self-management.
• PTOTSLPRNOther2023Reliability of pictorial Longshi Scale for informal caregivers to evaluate the functional independence and disability.Nursing openUnpaid family caregivers can reliably use a pictorial scale to assess patient disability, matching professional scores for those with secondary education or higher. Caregivers with only primary education showed significant disagreement with professionals, suggesting they need support or different tools.
• PTQualitative2023Implementation of interprofessional learning in hospital practice.Nursing openNursing students in rural hospital wards described interprofessional learning as uneven. Shadowing professionals was seen as useful, but workload, cancelled meetings and poor coordination were barriers.
• PTOTSLPOther2022Social withdrawal in Parkinson's disease: A scoping review.Geriatric nursing (New York, N.Y.)Parkinson's social withdrawal is linked to motor symptoms, speech difficulty, anxiety, depression, stigma and cognitive change. Some community activity and self-management programs were reported to improve participation, but the review did not prove cause.
• PTOTSLPRNSystematic Review2023Cultural influences on shared decision-making among Asian Americans: A systematic review and meta-synthesis of qualitative studies.Patient education and counselingMany Asian American patients want to be involved in discussions but prefer the provider to make the final decision. Clinicians should ask separately about involvement in the process versus the final choice, and actively include family members in consultations.
• PTSLPOther2023Family Engagement in Services During COVID-19: A Mixed-Methods Study of Caregiver and Staff Perspectives.Journal of pediatric health care : official publication of National Association of Pediatric Nurse Associates & PractitionersCaregivers and pediatric service staff described family engagement as variable and often lower after pandemic restrictions began. Telehealth and flexible contact helped some families, but poor internet, transport, child care, and needing to see physical or speech therapy problems hindered others.
• PTOTRNSurvey2023How Safe Do Dying People Feel at Home? Patients' Perception of Safety While Receiving Specialist Community Palliative Care.The American journal of hospice & palliative care20% of palliative care patients at home felt unsafe. Physical disability (60%), physical symptoms (30%) and psychological symptoms (26%) were common concerns; higher symptom scores and feeling unsafe were linked to shorter survival.
• PTOTRNMeta-Analysis2023A systematic review and meta-analysis: Assessment of hospital walking programs among older patients.Nursing openCombining data from seven studies of older inpatients found no clear link between hospital walking programs and shorter stays. Length of stay varied widely across studies, suggesting it may not be the best measure for judging if these programs actually help patients.
• PTOTRNRCT2023Combining exercise, protein supplementation and electric stimulation to mitigate muscle wasting and improve outcomes for survivors of critical illness-The ExPrES study.Heart & lung : the journal of critical careIn mechanically ventilated older adults, combining electrical stimulation, high-protein supplementation, and extra physical therapy reduced muscle loss and improved nitrogen balance compared to standard care. However, this multimodal bundle did not significantly shorten ICU stays or reduce ventilator days.
• PTOther2022Construction and validation of an algorithm for disinfection of ambulances transporting patients with contagious infectious diseases.Revista brasileira de enfermagemFrontline nurses, physicians and physical therapists agreed on a step-by-step ambulance cleaning and disinfection algorithm, reaching 99.8% agreement after review. The study did not test whether the algorithm prevents infection.
• PTOTRNMeta-Analysis2023Effect of exercise on rehabilitation of breast cancer surgery patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.Nursing openAerobic exercise reduced pain and improved shoulder flexion, internal rotation, arm symptoms and strength. Shoulder and elbow exercise reduced lymphedema incidence. Resistance exercise did not reduce pain, and manual lymphatic drainage and aerobic exercise did not show a reduction in arm volume.
• PTOTRNQualitative2023Patients' motivation to undergo transcatheter aortic valve replacement. A phenomenological hermeneutic study.International journal of older people nursingOlder patients chose TAVR primarily to avoid becoming dependent on others or entering a nursing home. Despite severe physical limitations, they maintained a strong desire for independence and hope for the future. This suggests preoperative discussions should focus on realistic expectations for daily life.
• PTRNSystematic Review2023A critical review: Effects of exercise and psychosocial interventions on the body image of breast cancer survivors.Nursing openAerobic and resistance exercise, Pilates, and self-compassion writing may improve body image in breast cancer survivors, but evidence is mixed and optimal delivery is unclear.
• PTOTSLPRNCohort2023Comprehensive Geriatric Hospital at Home: Adaptation to Referral and Case-Mix Changes During the COVID-19 Pandemic.Journal of the American Medical Directors AssociationHospital-at-home services for older adults adapted to pandemic changes without worsening outcomes. However, patients referred directly from the community achieved less functional recovery than those stepping down from hospital. Community referrals often involved more complex, frail patients.
• PTOTRNCohort2023A longitudinal study of disability in activities of daily living and activity restriction-induced fear of falling among Korean older people.Nursing openOlder adults who limited activities because they feared falling had more disability in daily tasks over 10 years. Fear of falling without limiting activities was not linked to disability.
• PTNarrative Review2023Yoga for COVID-19: An ancient practice for a new condition - A literature review.Complementary therapies in clinical practiceYoga and breathing are proposed for post-COVID-19 fatigue and dyspnea, but the review reports no published data on yoga for COVID-19 symptoms and warns most evidence is small, non-randomized, or from other conditions.
• PTCohort2023Acute Muscle Mass Loss Predicts Long-Term Fatigue, Myalgia, and Health Care Costs in COVID-19 Survivors.Journal of the American Medical Directors AssociationHospitalized COVID-19 patients who lost more thigh muscle had more fatigue and muscle pain at 6 months and higher health care costs. They did not have more of the other persistent symptoms.
• PTCohort2023Comparing rehabilitation outcomes for patients admitted to the intensive care unit with COVID-19 requiring mechanical ventilation during the first two waves of the pandemic: A service evaluation.Intensive & critical care nursingPatients in the second pandemic wave, who received physiotherapy five days a week instead of seven, had significantly lower mobility at ICU and hospital discharge. They were also more likely to need ongoing rehabilitation after going home.
• PTOTSLPNarrative Review2022Beneficial Effects of Maternal Physical Activity during Pregnancy on Fetal, Newborn, and Child Health: Guidelines for Interventions during the Perinatal Period from the French National College of Midwives.Journal of midwifery & women's healthRegular moderate physical activity during pregnancy improves fetal heart rate variability and child neurodevelopment, including language and motor skills. Strict bed rest does not prevent preterm birth and increases maternal stress, mood disorders, and guilt without clinical benefit.
• PTOTSLPRNCohort2023Physical, social, mental and spiritual functioning of COVID-19 intensive care unit-survivors and their family members one year after intensive care unit-discharge: A prospective cohort study.Intensive & critical care nursingOne year after ICU discharge, most COVID-19 survivors still reported fatigue, weakness or pain and work changes, but rated family functioning and mood positively; family members mostly returned to work.
• PTRNRCT2023Efficacy of a multicomponent exercise training program intervention in community-dwelling older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic: A cluster randomized controlled trial.Geriatric nursing (New York, N.Y.)Older adults who did a 16-week program of group exercise, home exercise, self-monitoring, videos, and nurse monitoring improved walking, strength, balance, and regular activity. Controls deteriorated. No single part can be isolated.
• PTOTRNCohort2023Risk Factors for First and Recurrent Fractures among Kidney Transplant Recipients.Progress in transplantation (Aliso Viejo, Calif.)Kidney transplant recipients face high fracture rates, with 27% breaking a bone within 10 years. Female sex, diabetes, and prior fracture increase first-fracture risk. For recurrent fractures, female sex, diabetes, and recent transplant era are key risks, while higher BMI appears protective.